On the Slopes of Tahoe by J.A. Forde: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

Wanting each other is easy…

It’s everything else that’s hard.

Breck Kylie’s perfect life unravels in a squall of betrayal, leaving him and his seven-year-old daughter reeling. Choosing to retreat from the sunny shores of Sydney, Australia, they embark on an extended vacation to Lake Tahoe in hopes they’ll find a new ‘normal’ on the snowy slopes.

Rory Anderson had big dreams once, but years of living in a blizzard of impossible expectations has beaten her down. Stuck in a cycle of fear and self-doubt, she’s living a life she’s unsure she truly wants. So, when her brother asks her to help his best friend get settled in Tahoe, she agrees with a renewed sense of purpose.

When Breck’s personal hurricane meets Rory’s frozen fears, they find themselves in the eye of the storm—a quiet place where connection and clarity finally break through. For Rory, it’s a chance to focus on her own dreams. For Breck, it’s a glimpse of the future he thought was shattered.

Finding solace in each other is supposed to be a short-lived thing, but what happens when they find themselves feeling more than they bargained for?

Will they walk away, or will they fight to hold onto the peace they’ve only ever found in each other?

On the Slopes of Tahoe is book two in the Love Along the Way series. It’s a testament to the beauty of found family and the love of two people who see each other in ways no one else does.

The Author

J.A. Forde is a romance writer, Navy wife, and full-time mom to two crazy kids (and a furry pup). She currently resides in Nevada with her family where you’ll most likely find her with her nose stuck in a book… or more realistically chasing her two kids with an audiobook in her earbuds.

She loves to travel and go on adventures which is why she decided to set her first book in Sydney, Australia. She hopes to write more books set in fun locales both as an escape for herself in writing, and for you as the reader!

Book Review

On the Slopes of Tahoe is the second book in the Love Along the Way series. While those who have read the previous book will appreciate catching up with familiar characters, I do believe this could be enjoyed as a standalone as well. 

From the moment I closed the On a Flight to Sydney, I found myself looking forward to what would happen next for these characters that I had fallen in love with. The way the story ended for Breck had me anxiously awaiting his chance for a happily ever after... and I had sincerely hoped that he would find that with Rory in Tahoe. (What can I say, I love a good 'brother's best friend' romance?) Needless to say, when I learned that book two WOULD be Breck and Rory, I was absolutely thrilled... and it absolutely did not disappoint. I'll admit, the 'friends with benefits' trope is not usually my favorite as I feel like it can lean a little more into the physical side than emotional than I personally prefer... but I really didn't feel like that was the case here. Yes, they had amazing chemistry... but they also had such a deep and emotional connection that came along before the physical too. I found myself smiling at those lighter moments like snowball fights and dancing in the kitchen and reaching for the tissues at those moments of heartbreak and the beautiful sense of found family throughout the story... and I most certainly found myself losing sleep unable to put it down until I saw how it all would work out. This was truly such a beautiful and emotional read and one I loved just as much (perhaps even more) than the first. 

One the Slopes of Tahoe is a fade-to-black romance. While nothing explicit happens on the pages, there is definitely some steamier buildup and innuendo leaving us absolutely no doubt as to what it is happening off the pages. There is also heavy language throughout--- to include many uses of the f-word. 



You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/42G7Be9